Ask for grandparent's visitation | California Courts | Self Help Guide

Overview

Ask for grandparent's visitation

To ask for visitation, you first need to either start a court case or join an existing one. Then, you file papers to get a court date and ask for child visitation orders. Before or sometimes after a court date, you'll go to mediation with the parents. After that, you'll have a court date where a judge can decide.

Select any step to get step-by-step instructions.

1. Start or join a court case

File papers to start a new court case or join an existing one and ask for a court date. You also pay a filing fee.
2. Serve the parents

Once you file your papers, you need to have the papers delivered to the parents. This is called serving court papers.
3. Go to mediation

You will need to go to mediation with the parents before your court date. At mediation, a neutral mental health professional will meet with you and the parents.
4. Go to your court date

Ge information about how to prepare for and what to expact at your court date.